Primitive Archer

I’ve held this in my hands. Real eye candy and shoots fine.

Beautiful bow in all aspects, love the skins. Pappy

Thanks Hamish!
I think it would have taken a narrower design but I intentionally overbuilt it since it was my first experience with it.
The handle is just 4 inches long and the fades are two inches each. I put the arrow shelf just 3/4 of an inch above the bow center so the handle wrap is halfway down the lower limb fades. I have been rounding the fades quite a bit too. I don't often build shelves but am trying to become a more consistent shooter.

Nice work Robert. Can you give us some more details about the handle design? It looks like either the top fade is a little longer, or the arrow pass is offset, to leave more length than the usual 4" standard handle. Whatever you did it seems like a good approach for a wide limbed bow and gives you a better sight picture.

Apple is a lovely wood, quite hard, and dense. Good to work, with a sweet scent.

I have only really seen flatbows made from apple, though much of the literature written, when English designs were prominent mention apple as a good bow wood.
So maybe a narrow design is also suitable.
I have a bunch of crab apple billets, that I cut during covid, that I haven't tried yet. You are inspiring me to dig them out and have a go.

That's brilliant!